Meet Martin Holland, Building Surveyor
Martin is a qualified building surveyor who trained at De Montfort University in Leicester.
His first job was as a CAD technician and surveyor in a multidisciplinary architectural practice with 40 people, where he was thrilled to work on projects including installing scanners at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals. After 10 years he moved to a practice with 500 staff to gain more experience in other areas of surveying such as condition surveys, and became an accredited NEC surveyor (National Engineering Contract) monitoring quality on big-value police and education projects. He S2e joined in March 2022.
Role at S2e
The role of building surveyor is a broad one, but what Martin enjoys most is project delivery and that is where he is able to focus at S2e. He says: “I was really sold on the company at interview by directors Martin Hier and Richard Coe, who presented a really exciting picture of what my role would be. That positivity and refreshing attitude won me over and I thought I would be valued at S2e in a way I was not by my previous employer. So far their promises have absolutely been reflected in the way the company works!”
Recent projects
After only three months he has already been involved in refurbishment projects to increase capacity, a modular music block and an extension to changing facilities, with several interesting projects coming up over a busy summer. “The great thing about specialising in education is just what a wide range of projects I'll be working on, from dining areas to multi-use pitches,” Martin says.
Improving conditions
“I love this type of work. No client is the same but they are all looking for us to help them, whether they need additional space or are facing a challenge to get a project ready for the new school year,” Martin says. He gains great satisfaction from delivering a new facility to make clients’ schools better meet their needs and improve conditions for students, and he has loved seeing S2e clients excited that the building project they have been waiting for is finally underway.
Achieving the best possible
Martin explains that where S2e’s expertise comes in is showing clients how they can best achieve what is possible: “If they come to us at Easter about a facility they need for the end of August we can talk them through the options, perhaps vary the tender route, look at sequencing of projects and encourage them to think about their priorities so that some of the work can be completed during the summer and the rest during October half term, for example. It is because S2e are such specialists in education that we can do this.”
Summing up his role, Martin says: “Schools know what they want and we help them arrive at that end goal.”
Surveyors to Education (S2e)
For more information on how we can help you develop the optimum learning environment for your pupils, contact us today at 01530 877969 or email enquire@s2e.org.uk.
